Compare towns

Lee vs Newfields vs Ashby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureLeeNewfieldsAshby
People
Population
4,576Highest
2,023Lowest
3,211
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
50.5±3Highest
30% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$115,598±$9kLowest
43% above U.S.
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$390,500±$30kLowest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,200±$484Lowest
15% below U.S.
Newfields and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661
210% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,034Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #3 of 120 in NH — #200 of 282 in MA
School district Oyster River Coop School District Newfields School District North Middlesex
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 10 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.